Russian loitering munition hits a target on the frontline
The first Saturday of November took place amid the slow but ongoing advance of Russian forces in the areas of Ugledar and Bahmut. Active offensive actions of Russian forces were also reported around the settlement of Pervomaysk in the countryside of Donetsk. However, offensive actions of the Russians in these directions face a strong resistance of units loyal to the Kiev regime that still experiences no lack in cannon fodder that it can throw to the frontlines of the conflict.
The advance of the Russians around Ugledar stuck in the area of Pavlovka. The village, located on the important crossroads, is partly controlled by Russian forces (over 50%) but its northern part is still contested. The weather conditions and reinforcements recently deployed by the Kiev regime played their role. Despite this, the situation for pro-Kiev units there still remains critical.
The area of Bahmut (Artemovsk) is another point of attention of the Russian military. The frontline there currently lies around Opitnoe (south of Bahmut) and reports appear about the movement of forward Russian units in the eastern and northern vicinity of Bahmut itself. Together with the tactical advances of the Russians around Pervomaysk it seems that the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost steam in the entire area of Donbass. Currently, they are mostly focused on attempts to prevent further advances of the Russians in the aforementioned areas.
Another key hot point is Kherson region, where the recent evacuation of the civilians organized by the Russians crated ground for a wide range of speculations by pro-Kiev media and MSM. According to their version of events, this was a pretext for a ‘large Russian retreat’ from the region. Despite this, the facts on the ground demonstrate no signs of the Russian retreat. Instead, Russian units deployed in the area regularly inflict heavy losses on units of the Kiev regime that try to attack in the direction of Kherson city.
It should be noted that despite obvious military successes in defense in Kherson, strategically, the Russians still experience logistical difficulties with supplying their group of forces on the right bank of Dnepr (Dnipro) River. These difficulties as well as a regular threat of strikes on civilian targets became the key factors behind the evacuation of civilians. Thus, the Russian military has reduced the need to supply and protect tens of thousands of civilians there. Therefore, they can focus on active military actions in the region.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry released a November 5 report on the progress of the military operation in Ukraine:
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kupyansk direction, enemy units forming up to 1 battalion tactical group attempted to attack Russian positions towards Kuzemovka (Lugansk People’s Republic).
Russian artillery and Army Aviation have neutralised the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
Over 140 Ukrainian personnel, 3 tanks, 2 infantry fighting vehicles, 3 armoured vehicles, and 5 multipurpose motor vehicles have been eliminated.
In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks of 3 company tactical groups of the AFU towards Stelmakhovka, Ploshchanka and Kremennaya (Lugansk People’s Republic) have been frustrated.
Intensive action by Russian troops, supported by artillery, has resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy.
Over 60 Ukrainian personnel, 1 tank, 2 armoured fighting vehicles, 3 pickups, and 1 motor vehicle have been eliminated.
In South Donetsk direction, artillery units and assault groups have neutralised AFU units near Novomikhaylovka, Pavlovka and Vremevka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Over 120 Ukrainian personnel, 2 armoured personnel carriers, 2 armoured personnel carriers, 2 armoured vehicles, 1 pickup, and 2 motor vehicles have been eliminated.
In Nikolayev–Krivoy Rog direction, 2 enemy mechanised infantry companies, supported by tanks, attacked Russian forces’ positions towards Sablukovka and Sukhanovo (Kherson region).
All the attacks have been repelled.
Artillery, Assault and Army Aviation have neutralised the AFU units.
Over 80 Ukrainian personnel, 3 armoured fighting vehicles, and 4 motor vehicles have been eliminated.
Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery have neutralised 5 command posts, including one of 15th National Guard Regiment near Krasny Liman (Donetsk People’s Republic), those of units from 60th Infantry Brigade of the AFU near Vysokopolye, Novaya Kamenka, Chervonoye (Kherson region), as well as 87 artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and military hardware in 179 areas.
1 command post of the Security Service of Ukraine has been neutralised near Kupyansk (Kharkov region).
1 armament and military hardware storage base of the AFU has been neutralised near Volnyansk (Zaporozhye region).
6 ordnance depots have been destroyed near Ivanovka (Kharkov region), Slavyansk, Druzhkovka (Donetsk People’s Republic), Novaya Kamenka and Petropavlovka (Kherson region).
1 self-propelled fire unit of Buk-M1 air defence missile system has been destroyed near Belogorka.
1 Ukrainian radar of S-300 air defence missile system has been destroyed near Novonikolayevka (Kherson region).
Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down 1 MiG-29 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Velikoaleksandrovka (Nikolayev region).
Air defence facilities have shot down 1 Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Ugledar (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Moreover, 9 unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down near Kalininskoye, Sadok, Tomarino (Kherson region), Stepnoye, Nikolayevka and Zelyony Gai (Donetsk People’s Republic).
In addition, 27 projectiles launched by U.S.-manufactured HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system have been intercepted near Leninskoye, Mospino (Donetsk People’s Republic), and Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region).
In total, 331 airplanes and 169 helicopters, 2,435 unmanned aerial vehicles, 386 air defence missile systems, 6,335 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 882 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 3,554 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 7,048 units of special military hardware have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Summing up events of the recent weeks, it is possible to draw a conclusion that the group of the Russian Armed Forces involved in the operation in Ukraine has still not finished the phase of regrouping and resupplying. The reinforcements have arrived, but there are much more to come. So, media reports about ‘large offensives’ towards Bahmut and Ugledar are premature. The fighting there is ongoing on the tactical level and is not supported by any really ‘large movements’ of Russian troops. Nonetheless, even a small-scale offensive activity of the Russian Armed Forces on a limited part of the frontline has already created significant difficulties for the Kiev regime.
Reports of the previous weeks demonstrate the intensification of Russian strikes on depots, command centers and gatherings of artillery and air-defense systems in close rear of Kiev’s forces in the southern and eastern sectors of the frontline. These actions, together with strikes on military industry facilities (remaining) and energy system of Ukraine, have not only short-term but also mid-term impact. The Russian military command is in no hurry. Therefore, large offensive operations of the Russians are yet to come.
